Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy has told striker Andy Keogh to be patient in his bid to break into the full Republic of Ireland squad.

The 21-year-old striker has been in great form for the Championship play-off hopefuls and has been the catalyst behind Wolves' recent return to form, before last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Watford.

Many believed Keogh was worthy of a full call up to the Ireland squad to face Brazil in an international friendly tonight but was selected instead for the under-21s squad that faced England in a European Championship qualifier at St Mary's last night.

"The Brazil game is a wonderful game to be involved in," the former Republic of Ireland captain and manager McCarthy said. "I played against Brazil at the old Lansdown Road. My record is played one and won one. They said it was their reserve team but I couldn't give a fiddlers.

"But let's not demean the Under-21s. It is a great fixture to be involved in too."

Keogh's Wolves team-mate Darron Gibson withdrew yesterday from the Ireland Under-21 squad because of a family bereavement. The midfielder, on-loan from Manchester United, returned to his native Ireland.

Meanwhile, Wolves' new signing George Elokobi is chomping at the bit to make his debut after completing his transfer deadline move from Colchester United.

He was due to wear the Old Gold for the first time in Monday's Birmingham Senior Cup semi-final against Birmingham City at Telford United but the Bucks Head ground pitch was waterlogged.

Now Elokobi, a left back, is targeting Saturday's clash with Stoke City at Molineux. The former non-league star, who came to England from Cameroon when he was 15 to study at college, is determined to make the most of his opportunity at Wolves.

"After the way I got into the professional game I am determined to take this chance," he said. "I want to be part of Wolves' great history and if I can help the club in any way get into the play-offs then that would be amazing.

"I used to play football in Cameroon but not professional or really seriously. Then, when I came over to England, I started playing on the park and was asked by a friend to play for a Sunday League team Apollo FC.

"I played there for about two months and the manager linked me up with the youth section at Dulwich Hamlet because the manager could see I could improve and had the hunger to do it. I started playing for the youth scheme, then the reserves and then the first team.

"After that I got picked up by Colchester and am now delighted to be here at Wolves.

"I will defend for my life. If it means putting your head in then I will do it, that's the sort of player I am. If there is a tackle to be won I will never back out. If there's a 50-50 challenge I'll be in there whatever the consequences."